Tag Archives: clouds

Picture Lake with Mt. Shuskan – Sunrise, Daytime, Sunset…

It is amazing how the same place can look so different depending on the time of day… Picture Lake located in Washington State in Mt. Baker National Forest is the perfect example of this… 

It is simply an awe inspiring location any time of day but for me, first and last light are the most exceptional… especially when you add in the Belt of Venus,  some fresh snow, and Fall colors mixed in! This place is unmatched in beauty…

Sunrise far

Sunrise close

Daytime

Sunset

Utah Desert Sunset

 

 

On my way back from Southern California I planned to reach Zion National Park in hope of catching a nice sunset.  When I was still an hour away with the sun about to set I had to  quickly come up with a new plan.  Knowing that I wouldn’t make it in time I pulled over to search the skies for an alternative location.  A beautiful cloud mass had formed over the desert landscape with an impressive mountain range off in the distance partially enshrouded by white fluffy clouds.  Now all I had to do was find a good vantage point which proved harder than expected.  

Racing against time I was very fortunate to find a county road that led to a public trailhead.  When I arrived, the sun was mostly obscured by clouds but a slight amount of light was piercing through which lit up a few clouds hovering over the distant mountains. To my surprise, one of the clouds took on the form of an angel which was enough confirmation for me that I was at the right location.  

Moments later the sunlight disappeared, leaving a rich black cloud bank behind the mountains. Just when I thought it was over, the saturated sunlight burst out again and nicely lit up the tips of the distant mountains.  Moments later, the sun set and the mysteriously beautiful Utah desert evening had come to an end. 

 

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Canon 6D, EF70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, f/16, 1/13 sec, 200 ISO, 135mm,  Dolica Professional tripod,  Abobe lightroom 6 for editing pano.

 

Beautiful Malibu Coast

 

 

 

 

 


 

This is a the second part of my recent trip to Southern California with the focus this time on the Malibu Coast.  The flowers here consisted mostly of Giant Coreopsis, Purple Sand Verbena, and a few California Poppies with some other varieties thrown in.  Again, the bloom this Spring was beautiful where ever I went.  

The rugged coast during sunset had a surprise element that I won’t soon forget. While setting up on a different day for another shot on the clifftop, I was fortunate to spot a pod of Grey Whales passing by right below me almost in the break zone.  I was latter told that they come in close to rub the barnacles off their bodies on the rocks.  They were migrating up to Alaska.  It was a fantastic sight to see them lunge their enormous heads out of the water along with the spray coming from their blowholes.  This went on for over an hour as they hung around my location.  There were many others who shared in this experience which made it even better.

Thanks for viewing my site and I hope your spring is going well!